Senior DB2 for z/OS Database Administrator ; In-Person Interview is Must ; G.C / U.S.C
12+Months
Tallahassee, FL (Onsite, Local Candidates Only – 5 Days/Week)
W2 Only (No C2C) :: Local Tallahassee, FL, or nearby candidates only. Onsite 5 days/week; Teams and mandatory in-person interviews at candidate’s expense.
Summary:
Seeking a hands-on mainframe DBA to own the health, performance, availability, and recoverability of DB2 for z/OS environments. This role spans subsystem upgrades and catalog maintenance, application integration, performance engineering, point-in-time recovery, started task management, disaster recovery planning/testing, and broader mainframe infrastructure coordination. Exposure to Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server on Windows/Azure is also required.
What you will do:
- Lead DB2 for z/OS subsystem lifecycle: installation, upgrades, catalog maintenance, PTF/APAR application, configuration, and standards.
- Drive DB2 performance engineering: SQL/package tuning, buffer pool and EDM tuning, DDF optimization, statistics strategy (RUNSTATS), and utility management (REORG, COPY, RECOVER).
- Design and execute robust backup/recovery and point-in-time recovery strategies; manage logging, image copies, and recovery drills to meet RTO/RPO.
- Support application integration for COBOL and CA Gen workloads; advise on schema design, access paths, and change deployment.
- Create and maintain JCL and DB2 utility jobs; manage and monitor started tasks and automation.
- Implement and support scheduling using ASG Scheduler; coordinate batch execution and dependencies.
- Monitor and troubleshoot with DB2 and z/OS monitoring tools; perform incident/problem management and root cause analysis.
- Enforce security and compliance in RACF; coordinate with CICS teams for transactional integrity and performance.
- Plan and execute disaster recovery testing; validate infrastructure change via verification testing and change management controls.
- Collaborate across infrastructure, application, and vendor teams; produce clear documentation, runbooks, and capacity plans.
- Provide cross-platform support for Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server environments, including performance, administration, and integration on Windows/Azure (SSMS, SSRS, SSIS).
Required qualifications:
- 7+ years as a DB2 for z/OS DBA with advanced expertise in:
- Application integration, performance management, and database administration
- Upgrading DB2 for z/OS and catalog maintenance
- Subsystem point-in-time recovery
- JCL development and review
- In-depth knowledge of:
- z/OS integrated platform and ISPF
- CA GEN model management and application object support
- ASG Scheduler
- COBOL in mainframe environments
- DB2 for z/OS monitoring tools and interpretation
- z/OS software monitoring tools and interpretation
- Planning and coordinating technical infrastructure implementations
- Solid working knowledge of:
- z/OS started task creation and management
- IBI z/OS service support
- AFOPER commands
- RACF security administration
- CICS concepts and integration points
- IOF usage
- Disaster Recovery principles and execution
- Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server administration, performance, and application integration
- Verification testing techniques for infrastructure change management
- Working knowledge of:
- z/OS EXITS
- BJS (Batch Job Scheduler)
- Windows Server administration
- SSMS, SSRS, SSIS
- Azure fundamentals
Nice to have:
- Experience with DB2 utilities tooling suites (IBM, BMC, Broadcom/CA)
- Capacity planning and chargeback reporting
- Scripting/automation (REXX, CLIST)
- Familiarity with SMP/E, AF/Operator policy tuning, and IOF customization
- ITIL Foundation or similar service management background
Education and certification:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent experience
- Relevant certifications a plus (e.g., IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 for z/OS, Microsoft/Oracle DBA certs, ITIL)
Work setup:
- Full-time, with on-call rotation for production support and participation in DR exercises
- Ability to coordinate changes across multiple environments and maintenance windows (including off-hours as needed)
